EXHIBIT 23.1


                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT





The Board of Directors
CenturyTel, Inc.:


We consent to  incorporation  by reference in the  registration  statement  (No.
33-46562)  on Form S-8 of  CenturyTel,  Inc. of our report  dated June 27, 2000,
relating to the statements of assets available for benefits of Century Telephone
Enterprises,  Inc.  Retirement  Savings Plan for  Bargaining  Unit Employees and
Trust as of December 31, 1999 and 1998, and the related  statement of changes in
assets  available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 1999, and related
financial  statement  schedule as of December 31, 1999,  which report appears in
the  December  31,  1999  annual  report  on  Form  11-K  of  Century  Telephone
Enterprises,  Inc.  Retirement  Savings Plan for  Bargaining  Unit Employees and
Trust.



KPMG LLP

/s/ KPMG LLP

Shreveport, Louisiana
July 12, 2000